Helpful and Effective Tips in Passing the DLSUCET

Helpful and Effective Tips in Passing the DLSUCET
By: Cloyd Uyson
(I wrote this article 6years ago, and I'm reposting it for the benefit of those preparing for the DLSUCET, if you guys know anyone from the fourth year this will surely be of help to them)

It’s my fifth year now of teaching here in De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, and I found out how a lot of my students really wanted to study or get accepted at De La Salle University. Indeed, this October 17, Sunday (For this school year it would be on January 2016 due to the change of the start of classes), is a red-letter date for the majority of DLSZobel students who will be taking their make or break College entrance test, the DLSUCET exam. For most of us teachers, we support our dear students in this important exam by not giving them projects and homeworks prior to the said examination day.
These students of ours do take the preparation phase of taking the said test very seriously. Their parents send them to review centers or they hire tutors who will enhance their mathematical, scientific and English skills. The school on the other hand gives summer review programs and remedial review classes in Mathematics, Science and English.
In short, reviewing is the key to a greater chance of passing the DLSUCET! As Edgar Dale once wrote in his famous Core of Experience Theory, and I quote: “Why Review? Review because research shows that people retain 10% of what they hear, 30% of what they read, 30% of what they see and 90% of what they do.”
Back to the DLSUCET Test, Personally I am wondering what could be the exact pointers which will appear in the actual test. But since it is highly confidential, we can but give our students the basic rules and tips in taking a college entrance exam and getting a higher chance of passing such test.
Here are some of the basic tips from my former students who made it to DLSU Manila which I gathered from my four years of teaching here at De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. These former DLSZ students of mine either by chance visited our school and I grabbed the opportunity in asking them to spontaneously share to their younger former schoolmates some practical tips why they made it to DLSU Taft, to ADMU or UP. It’s a sort of a joyous “pay it forward” experience for these nice alumni.
Here then are the random things they shared in view of preparing and taking the DLSUCET:
1. Be intellectually prepared. There is nothing else which can beat intellectual preparation before taking any university entrance exam, most especially the DLSUCET. You must be serious in attending your review classes either in school or in any review center.
2. Do not just memorize. Instead, understand and do internalize the basic concepts in the major subjects namely science, math and English. Memorizing will bring you far but once you forget just a concept, you might get a mental blockout. Understanding and taking or viewing things in a larger perspective will make a difference and will definitely bring a better result.
3. Analyze each item very carefully. Reason out. Remember your philosophy days. Scrutinize each question with the end in mind, namely getting the best if not the correct answer. If the question seems too hard, leave it, move to the next item and go back to it after finishing the entire test.
4. Compared to ACET and UPCAT, time pressure is not a problem with DLSUCET. Hence, you can review your answers and change your answers to those items which you are not really very sure.
5. According to a bright freshman alumnus of DLSZ, there was no essay during their DLSUCET last year. They were just asked to fill in the blanks with the best word or phrase in order to make the statement grammatically correct and the sentence complete. Supply those blanks with short, concise, grammatically correct word, phrase or phrases. Use your common sense and vocabulary skills.
6. Just in case there will be an essay this year here is one important tip: Read up on current events or at least be aware of the most recent issues in our country, in politics, education, the Church and other relevant matters that deals with our country.
7. According to another intelligent alumnus, with DLSUCET, compared to ACET and UPCAT, Math items were not that difficult nor tricky. You just have to maintain your focus and presence of mind. Be precise and certain with the formulae. With
Physics, do study and master the graphs. There will be a lot of them in the test. Reading was tough. They were too long and hard!
8. As of last year’s DLSUCET test, they were told by their upper schoolmates who took the said test that just in case you are not so sure with the answer among the choices, most likely, the answer is letter C! Well, it’s ultimately up to you if you will follow this advice. But I suggest, that you better follow your first instinct. If you think it’s not letter C, then by all means choose the best answer!
9. Let’s talk about the more practical part: Basically, the DLSUCET usually include the following type of tests in view of language proficiency: vocabulary, identifying errors, verbal analogy, sentence completion, paragraph and sentence connection and reading comprehension.
a. These are the tips in answering effectively this language proficiency test:
i. Read the sentence to yourself, say it loud in your mind and trust your ears or intuition for grammar. Recall the similarities of such statements in your English lessons before.
ii. Good grammar is usually concise.
iii. Read in order to succeed. Comprehend each sentence.
iv. Familiarize yourself with basic or commor analogy patterns.
b. Answering your DLSUCET Math Test:
i. Be conscious of time, but do not panic. Be calm.
ii. Scan all the items of the test for you to get a bird’s eye view or a complete/holistic perspective of what you are going to answer.
iii. Pace yourself well. Manage your time wisely. Do not spend it all in answering the hard items. The more items you cover and answer the better.
iv. Keep your pencil moving in order for your brain to work well. Have a hard focus in each item. Do not be too nervous or to complacent noe excited. You will get distracted otherwise.
v. Draw diagrams in your scratch paper.
vi. Visualize all the formulae which were taught to you in your Math classes and review classes. Be precise with them.
vii. Eliminate choices. Choose the best answer.
viii. Back-solve problem and concentrate well.
c. Answering DLSUCET Science Test:
i. Keep track of the time limit yet answer very calmly
ii. Have an overview of the entire coverage of the test through scanning it.
iii. Have a dynamic pace in answering.
iv. If your mind tells you that this is the answer to this item and such answer is indeed among the choices, most likely, that is the correct answer. Then choose it!
v. Be conscious of all the given tables, data and graphs.
vi. Solve each problem one at a time in your mind. Again, do the golden rule: “Never Panic”!
vii. Do watch out for correlations or relationships between quantities and other variables that are found in the items.
viii. Do review your answers.
ix. You may change answers by all means if you think it’s needed and necessary.
d. Answering the Reading Comprehension part of the DLSUCET:
i. Scan and skim questions for you to get an overview.
ii. Manage your time wisely through proper pacing.
iii. Read each passage in order to understand the sentence structures.
iv. Work first with familiar passages rather than the unfamiliar ones.
v. You must base your answers on each passages only.
vi. Be conscious when to move to the next item or reading.
The Day before the Big Day
Reminders from the Guidance Office: Bring the following on the Exam day:
1. Exam permit
2. Lead Pencil (#1 or #2 only)
3. School ID
4. Snacks (Canteens inside the campus are closed on Sundays!)
Take the time to get your stuff in order on the day before the exam. Make sure your exam permit (Don’t leave home without it!) and your school identification are within easy reach. Prepare your pen, pencil, sharpener and eraser, as you cannot pass what you cannot write on.
You may also wish to bring a jacket, a sweater, or something that can keep you warm. There’s always a chance that you’ll get assigned to some super cool room. Believe me, freezing during an exam does not improve your chances of passing it one bit. Finally, remember to pack some brain food (fruits, veggies, nuts, tuna etc.) and water for refueling purposes, as well as some medicine and tissue. Now this is not to suggest that the DLSUCET will make you sick, but you’ll never know…Bring extra sandwiches in case you feel hungry during or after the test. Please do not bring sweets, chocolates or candies since this will distract you mind in eating such goodies!
The Big Day
Get a good night’s sleep before the big day so that your mental powers will function at their peak. Fill your gasoline tank (read: your stomach) with fuel in the morning so that your brain can think properly. Offer your daily libation (i.e. visit the comfy room) before hand. Most importantly, pray before the exam. Divine guidance is a must! Copy this very powerful prayer which I learned from the wisemen and sages of old:
The Prayer Of Jabez!
“Lord, grant that you may bless me, and bless me indeed! Increase my territorries and keep me away from evil amen! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, Amen
Likewise, let’s not forget to implore the help of our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus’Mother and our Mother too to bless you all on Sunday as you take your said test.
Leave early enough so that you can get there at least thirty minutes or even an hour before the exam, then take the time to relax and clear your mind. Do some yoga or meditation to calm yourself down and to give yourself that feeling of empowerment.
After The Exam
Eureka!!!!It’s Finished!!!!You’ve done your best! Now pray, relax, and chill out.
I’ll leave you with this bit of encouragement: it is said that De La Salle University actually has more slots for enrollees than other schools (and they kind of prioritize students of their High school Department, yes, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, your school, our beloved school!!!!) mainly Ateneo and UP, so there’s a pretty good default chance that you’ll make it. If you’ve done your best, believe that you will, and the universe will move according to your beliefs. You are a Lasallian after all, a person with wholistic formation, EXCELLENCE personified!:-)